How Adam Levine Believes Blake Shelton Hazed Kelsea Ballerini Before ‘The Voice’

Adam Levine is still feuding with Blake Shelton, even though the latter man is no longer on The Voice. During the Feb. 24 episode of the show, Levine caught up with this season’s new coach, Kelsea Ballerini.

“Blake really made me nervous,” the country star told the Maroon 5 frontman. “He was like, ‘Adam’s tough. Sometimes he’s mean. He’s competitive. He’s ruthless.’ He was wrong! You’re lovely. You’re really nice.”

“Thank you,” Levine responded, before revealing why he thinks Shelton talked some trash about him. “I feel like Blake was hazing you.”

Ballerini agreed that it was a possibility, admitting of known jokester Shelton, “He’s like that.”

“He’s mean,” Levine answered. “He’s not a nice guy.”

While Ballerini didn’t agree with that statement, Levine insisted that his one-time Voice nemesis is “not a nice person.”

“If he’s being nice to you that means he’s lying,” he said, before reflecting on having to sit in Shelton’s old Voice chair for this season.

“The one bad part about shooting this season of The Voice is I have to sit in this filthy chair,” Levine said.

Ballerini seemed to suggest that the chair may be lucky, as she questioned, “Didn’t he win more than anyone?”

“Maybe,” Levine conceded, before quipping, “I don’t keep track.”

Adam Levine and Blake Shelton’s Storied Bromance

Indeed, Shelton has won The Voice a record nine times in comparison to Levine’s three wins. However, Shelton appeared on 23 seasons of the show, while Levine has only coached 17 times.

Shelton and Levine had a beloved bromance throughout their joint run, with fans eating up their banter for 16 seasons. When Levine decided to come back to the show after Shelton’s exit, he didn’t let the friendly rivalry dwindle away.

“The best part about being back with The Voice Family is that I don’t have to deal with Blake Shelton,” Levine joked in a January interview with People. “I just don’t like him. So, it’s been great not having to be around him. He’s a bad friend.”

Levine quickly clarified that it’s all love between him and Shelton, stating, “”I’m just kidding. Of course, I love Blake. And I had to open with a Blake joke because he’s not on the show anymore, yet they still continue.”

Photo by Trae Patton/NBC